Well, not 2.7 anymore. With DD's incentive, Amir's small unlikely incentive (included in tax calcs and didn't know about it until DD's news came out), higher first year salaries for GV and Patterson, you are looking at about 1.5M to spend before the tax.

So, with Sham confirming the numbers, we have 1.62M in room below the tax. We also used the tax-payer's MLE, so we are not hard capped at the apron. Also means we can't use that 1.62M on one player. We have the remainder of the TPMLE (about 700k - enough to give a raise to a 2nd round or undrafted rookie but that's all) or the minimum to use on the final roster spot. Or our two TPE's (~4.5M and ~3.5M) to absorb a salary in trade.

I don't believe KD will be coming Tdot, still want to know who would be more real for the Raptors. The core of KL,DD,TRoss, Milsap and JV costs you 53 million. The bench of GV ( resigned for 2/15), PP and two Brazilian Blurs plus three first round picks totals 21 million dollars.If JJ matures to be that enforcer defensive specialist at 3/15. With two open spots a solid backup Center and a 3 point specialist for off the bench.
I believe a point guard will be drafted by Raptor Management's in their next three first round picks.

I believe a point guard will be drafted by Raptor Management's in their next three first round picks.

Well consider that there are only 5 positions, that is very likely over a span of 3 drafts. Even more so considering it's our oldest position on the roster and the only one without a recent draft pick (depending on where you line Bruno and Ross at).

Well consider that there are only 5 positions, that is very likely over a span of 3 drafts. Even more so considering it's our oldest position on the roster and the only one without a recent draft pick (depending on where you line Bruno and Ross at).

Especially considering we have 4 first round picks over the next 3 drafts. It would actually be very unlikely NOT to draft a PG.

This is based on a $2.144B contract. If it jumps higher obviously higher payrolls.

It might be time to start looking at NBA salaries a little differently this summer and next.

Welcome to a $75+M salary cap?

The NBA and its network partners expect to reach an agreement in principle on new long-term media deals by the start of the regular season, according to sources on all sides of the discussions.

Talks have progressed so rapidly that details are emerging on a massive agreement that would see the league’s annual rights fee more than double, with ESPN and Turner combining to pay more than $2 billion per year on average. One source said ESPN already has committed to pay “well over” $1 billion per year, and Turner is not far behind for a media rights extension that would kick in with the 2016-17 season.

As part of the current eight-year deals that end in June 2016, ESPN pays $485 million per year and Turner pays $445 million per year on average, bringing the league’s total take at just less than $1 billion per year.

But that figure would be dwarfed in a new deal that several sources pegged as an eight-year pact, though one source with knowledge of the talks said it ultimately could end up running nine years.

Could be more like $85M+ in 2016 if they don't do anything to damp it out. If they take a cap spreading approach (which they've never done before but reportedly are considering) it would damp that 85M down a bit, but probably also make next year's cap leap up to 70M+, which would be great for the Raptors.

Now that 2014/15 rosters are set , next year with 16.3 available for a free agent to take the PF spot and a backup quality center larger than Chuck Hayes where do you allocate your monies. Would a trade for a Tyler Ennis type player or draft a player like him in 2015.
Because I believe Durant to T.O.is an unrealistic aspiration

Interesting thought on keeping Amir. If Masai is really going to go all in on chasing Durant with cap room...

Sign Amir next summer to a max contract, for one season only. $21.8M. This is probably two years worth of salary for him, and allows the team to keep him without committing extra salary to 2016. That is the extent of the agreement with Amir. No future promises.

In summer 2016, we then have $77.6M in salary and cap holds (assuming Amir's rights are waived, as are NDC's), with a projected cap near 85M. Then we waive GV's and JJ's rights. Now we are looking at 62.9M committed, and 22.3M in cap room. That's right close to a max offer (for Durant, it would be 24.1M). Sign Ross to a deal starting at $7M per year, and you've got $24.1M in room. Boom, max offer for Durant. Anyway, after that you re-sign DD and JV, then move onto Amir before trolling for vets with the minimum.

Then you try to sell Amir on playing with Durant, for a championship. We could offer him $3M per year for 1 or 2 years, with the Room MLE. I'd offer 1 year. I'd point out that after that year, we could evaluate whether to bring him back on a long term deal, if he fits with the team and Durant. That's BS, but it's what I'd say.

Then in 2017, here's the twist, we'd still have his Bird Rights. So we would be free to re-sign him for up to his max and up to 5 years, even though he had such a low salary the year before.

Now, the key is, we cannot make any promises of step 3 during step 1 or 2. That's cap circumvention. But if he can be sold on each step individually (step 1 would be a breeze, step 2 would test his commitment to the team and city, and to a chance at winning), it would pay off long term for both parties.

Amir deal is crazy , but even crazier is rolling the dice on Durant, you have two potential all stars -DD and JV and a team leader in KL. Ross has potential to be a small forward or a Sg as he matures if DD leaves. But four of Five talented starters are as good as two Superstars. A 15/10 or 17/8 guy at PF for 28- 30 minutes is what is necessary to complete this team.

KL,Dd,TRoss,JV is 80% of a very strong starting 5 .GV,JJ and PPat solid midterm bench. A backup center is significant and a starting PF is important. Haslem is beloved in Miami and he took the financial hit for the team. Toronto will not have that luxury.
So who is your PF- Durant is a Dream- a 100-1 long shot. This is a way Toronto growth will get burnt.

The superstar teams grow old because of financial cap issues without any bench from the 8 th player onwards. Miami taught Lebron that he needed a young team that would grow with him as he ages and a bench that are being paid almost nothing - miller, Marion and Jones.

What about Omer Asik as your starting forward next year - strong rebounder, solid defensive forward - and could be a 15/10 and roll into the backup center roll. Toronto than can rebound and run with KL, DD & TRoss

Blazer's edge ran some numbers assuming a smoothed cap impact over three years starting in 2015 instead of one year in 2016. I disagree with their math - here is how I would expect it to break down. This is based on the current trend of revenue outrunning projections by about 1% (so a 5.5% annual increase instead of 4.5%) and assuming the cap lines up with where it should be in 2017-18.

Big impact is next summer and the summer after. Pretty much scuttles any chance of having max room in 2016 to chase Durant. But opens up true max next summer (we could have $22 million in cap room). Maybe opens up possibility of keeping Amir AND chasing a big name, if the true max guys are not an option.

Nice presentation- agree with you the natural growth of the BRI will be higher a 5.5 growth is reasonable.

How about a free agent reach for Faried as your PF 4/75 or a Milsap at 4/50 are either feasiable , I guess that a trade for Lee plus a barnes or green is also viable.

Since Klay wants near max to stay in GS does the proposed higher cap still put pressure on GS to trade Lee with the prospect kicker. Now the number of entry contracts have higher impact value on the total salary cap.

Also teams having their RFA approaching their renewal periods must make decisions quickly to keep the second contracts reasonable.